In pictures...

Accommodation

The splendid Georgian mansion, Larpool Hall, commands a wonderful position above the harbour town of Whitby. With excellent accommodation and spacious public rooms it is a most attractive base for our walking and leisure activity holidays.

We also have a lodge in the grounds of Larpool Hall, ideal for families or groups of friends.

Bedrooms

Larpool Hall has 28 newly refurbished bedrooms in the main building. Rooms at the front of the house enjoy wonderful views across the Esk Valley.

Our classic bedrooms offer comfortable accommodation and an en-suite bathroom with bath or shower. They also have TV, hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities. Single rooms are available for an extra £8 per night.

You can enjoy extra space or exceptional views plus additional facilities including a towelling robe and complimentary slippers when you upgrade to a premium bedroom. Premium rooms are available at just £5 extra per person per night.

If you are travelling with your family, we have a selection of 3 and 4-bedded family bedrooms. These have all the facilities of our classic rooms plus full sized twin or double beds for adults and bunk beds or occasional beds for children.

A limited number of value twin rooms are available at a discount of £8 per person per night and value single rooms with a £5 per night discount. Our value rooms have the same facilities as our classic rooms, but bathroom facilities are nearby rather than en-suite.

The lodge at Whitby

The Whitby lodge is a comfortable, self-contained lodge in the grounds of Larpool Hall, available to book for holidays.

The lodge has two twin bedrooms, one double bedroom, two bathrooms and a lounge with double sofa bed. It will sleep up to eight people, making it ideal for families, groups of friends or even couples who would like the luxury of some extra space.

You can book the whole lodge for any holiday at Whitby – Walking, Leisure Activities, and Country House Escapes. All holidays are Full Board, with breakfast and dinner served in Larpool Hall (only 30 metres away), and our famous self-select picnic lunch. When you book the lodge for 3 or more persons you can receive a discount of 15% off the price of your booking.

For more information, contact our friendly Reservations team on 0345 470 7558.

All our Country Houses are tailored to the needs of walkers and outdoor enthusiasts and have excellent boot and drying rooms.

Larpool Hall has a large lounge with a central dance floor. This connects with the spacious bar and the outdoor terrace to provide a very comfortable and flexible space. There are also two smaller lounges and an attractive dining room. A range of board games and books is available. Free WiFi is available in the public rooms.

There are extensive views from the front of the house across the Esk Valley. The gardens include a putting green and croquet lawn.

All holidays at our Country Houses are Full Board with all meals included, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on the day of your departure.

Start your day with our extensive breakfast. Choose from a wide selection on the cold buffet and/or a full cooked breakfast. Maybe enjoy a lighter option of fruit and yoghurt followed by scrambled egg, go for porridge followed by a full English breakfast, or select something in between.

Choose from our famous self-select picnic lunches - everything you need to keep you going on a day outdoors. Your own choice of sandwiches is prepared to order, and you can add crisps and snacks, fruit, nuts, chocolate bars, sweets and biscuits as you wish.

The relaxed dinner is a highlight of any stay at our Country Houses. With tables seating up to 10 and no seating plan, it offers a great opportunity to get to know your fellow guests. There is always a choice of dishes for every course, featuring good British cooking and often local specialities. A vegetarian option is always available.

All our Country Houses have a well-stocked bar serving local beers, wine and spirits.

Guided Walking: enjoy a glass of wine or local beer in the bar before a talk about the next day's walks. After dinner there will be an activity or entertainment which you will be welcome to join. These vary from week to week but could include a talk about Whitby's colourful history from a visiting speaker or a team quiz. In summer our guests love our open-top bus ride around the town (most Tuesday nights in the summer). Alternatively if you prefer, feel free to just relax in our lounge or bar.

Leisure Activities: many of our Leisure Activities holidays continue into the evening with programmed sessions. Other holidays will have the evenings free, and you will be welcome to join in other social activities that may be happening in the house.

Family holidays: our activity leaders are on hand to organise children’s activities and games for younger children before dinner. These could include rounders, outdoor games, or crafts. After dinner there are further activities for the whole family.

Self-Guided Walking: there may be evening social activities happening in the house during your holiday, and you will be most welcome to join in. However, not all self-guided holidays will have evening activities available – if these are important to you, please check before booking.

There is a large car parking area at the front of the house for 30-40 cars

There are 9 stone steps up to the front door, each of the steps is 2.4m wide and 5.5 inches high. Front steps have a handrail

The outside area is made of large gravel with good lighting

Disabled car parking for 2 cars in the back courtyard with a level access to the house via the back door. No steps

Main entrance & reception

General office is situated off the entrance hall

The entrance hall with tiled floor measures 10m x 6m

Public areas - hall, stairs, landing, corridors etc

The house has 3 floors. The ground floor consists of the entrance hall, 2 lounges, the dining room, a games room, a ladies rest room, the main function room and 2 guest bedrooms

The bar area and the gents rest room are 6 steps down from the ground floor level. There is a handrail in the centre of the steps

All carpeted, except the bar area, which have non-slip flooring

All corridors on the ground floor are 5 feet in width, with no ramps or grab rails

Public areas - lounge & bar

The lounge has comfortable chairs, tables and a fire place.

The minimum main door width is 36 inches. The minimum back door width is 29 inches

The lounge measures 5.8m by 5m

Public WCs

Both the ladies and gents are situated on the ground floor. Gents accessed via 6 steps

The door width to the ladies is 29 inches and the cubicle door width is 26 inches. Toilet seat height is 17 inches

Main door to the gents is 32 inches wide and the cubicle door is 29 inches wide. The toilet seat height is 17 inches and the urinal height is 24 inches

Dining room

The carpeted dining room is on the ground floor with level access

The door width is 35 inches

It has 5 round tables (28 inches high), each seating up to 9 guests. The chairs (18 inches high) have soft fabric seats and wooden back rests

All furniture is easily movable

The breakfast / picnic room is off the dining room, accessed via 2 steps with a handrail to the right. Both steps are 7 inches deep

Continental breakfast buffet with waitress service for cooked foods and hot drinks. Waitress service at dinner

Outdoor facilities

There are 14 acres of grounds and gardens. Excellent outdoor lighting

Patio area with garden furniture and umbrellas. Level access to the patio

Bedrooms

There are another 4 bedrooms that are suitable for those with mobility issues

All rooms are en-suite, most with shower

Additional information

Fire procedure is displayed in each room and explained to guests on arrival. Guests requiring assistance at an evacuation are identified at this time and door hanger cards are issued

Mobile phone reception is generally good from the main building

Assistance dogs accompanying visually or hearing impaired guests are welcome; dogs must be kept on a lead or harness at all times

Information can be provided in large print

Staff have received disability awareness training

Special diets can be catered for. Specialist food can be obtained with prior notice

Hired equipment can be arranged for your stay with prior notice

Fridge for medication can be supplied

Itinerary

Friday: Arrival day

You can check in to your room from 2.30pm onwards. Please join us for afternoon tea at 4pm. All guests are invited – we’ll introduce your leader and welcome you to your holiday.

Your first Bridge session starts at 5pm and continues after dinner.

Daily programme

9.30am-12.30pm: Bridge seminar (please see details below) and practice hands, with a break for morning coffee.

12.30pm: Enjoy a light lunch at the the country house e.g. soup & sandwich. Afternoons are free for relaxing or exploring the local area independently. Guests are welcome to stay in the bridge room and play further hands if they prefer.

5pm-10.30pm: Bridge competition, with a break for the evening meal

Monday: Depart after a leisurely breakfast

Please note: The evening competition is structured by Duplicate Bridge movements which organise which competitors play which opponents and when and on which boards. In order to ensure fair competition and the correct “”balance”, we are obliged to ask that guests either take part in the whole evening competition (ie from 5pm through to 10.30pm) or “sit out” the entire competition on any particular evening. Please inform your Bridge leader as soon as possible if you intend not to attend the evening bridge competition.

What to bring

All your Bridge stationery and equipment will be supplied. You may, however, like to bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes EBU Members - don’t forget to bring your EBU membership number to earn Master Points on this holiday.

Local area

Discover the North York Moors

During your stay at Larpool Hall you may enjoy visiting the following places of interest, either in your free time, or on your journey to and from Whitby:

Whitby is a bustling harbour town and a popular tourist destination. From Larpool Hall it is a 1½ miles downhill walk, or a short drive to the town centre. The town has a full range of facilities including shops, banks, pubs and cafés. If you don’t mind the queue, the Magpie café on the waterfront is said to serve England’s best fish and chips!

Whitby Abbey The iconic ruined abbey commands a wonderful position above the harbour and can be reached by climbing the famous 199 steps. About 10 minutes' drive or a 1½ mile walk. www.english-heritage.org.uk//whitby-abbey

Staithes The pretty fishing village of Staithes is a pleasant spot to visit. Young children may well recognise the village as the setting for Old Jacks Boat on CBeebies. Around 25 minutes' drive from Whitby.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway The North Yorkshire Moors Railway operates steam trains over its 18 mile line between Grosmont and Pickering and in the summer some trains continue over the British Rail branch line to Whitby. This is a highly scenic route: one reason why the line has become Britain’s most visited steam railway. The well-kept and historic stations are worth seeing for their own sake and you may well recognise Goathland which has doubled as ‘Adensfield’ on the Heartbeat TV series, and as ‘Hogsmeade’ in the Harry Potter films. Either join the train at Whitby, or at Grosmont, about 20 minutes' drive away. www.nymr.co.uk

Scarborough & Stephen Joseph TheatreScarborough is a quintessential Victorian seaside resort with plenty of attractions for both young and old. The Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough is home to Alan Ayckbourn, the renowned playwright. It has two theatres - the round and the McCarthy which doubles as a cinema, plus a restaurant and shop. www.sjt.uk.com

Whitby to Scarborough Cycle TrailThis superb trail uses the route of disused railway line and offers miles of traffic-free cycling, often with outstanding sea views. The trail passes right next to Larpool Hall and heads south to Robin Hoods Bay, Ravenscar, or if you are feeling keen to Scarborough. Bikes can be hired at nearby Hawsker. www.trailways.info

Rydale Folk MuseumThis museum is located at Hutton-Le-Hole, about 50 minutes' drive from Whitby. This pretty village west of Pickering that has a feel of a Cotswold village, being built of mellow stone and with a stream though the middle. The museum houses exhaustive displays of rural life and crafts in buildings spread over several acres. www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk

Castle Howard Located near Malton about an hour's drive from Whitby, Castle Howard is one of Britain’s grandest stately homes. It is well known as the location for the TV series Brideshead Revisited. Today the house is still owned by the Howard family and the building hosts many exhibitions & events throughout the year. Also of interest are the extensive gardens that contain a formal rose garden and elegant ponds and fountains. www.castlehoward.co.uk

Travel

Travel to Whitby

By train:

The nearest railway station to Larpool Hall is at Whitby, which is at the end of a long branch line from Middlesbrough. However, most guests find that travelling via Scarborough station is more convenient. For train times and general rail enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 03457 484950 (from outside the UK call +44 20 7278 5240).

By taxi:

The 2 mile journey from Whitby station takes approximately 10 minutes, with a cost of around £7 per taxi. The 21 mile journey from Scarborough rail station takes approximately 40 minutes, with a cost of around £30. Details of our current recommended taxi company and rates will be sent to you with your booking. The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Larpool Hall Manager.

By bus:

The 93 bus runs regularly between Scarborough station and Whitby. As you approach Whitby, alight by the Larpool Industrial Estate. From here it is an 800 metre walk to Larpool Hall. See www.traveline.info for bus times.

By car:

Most guests approach Whitby via the A171 from Teesside or the A169 from Pickering and Malton; these roads converge at a roundabout about 2 miles outside Whitby. After this roundabout and as you approach Whitby, cross another roundabout then turn right at the traffic lights signposted to Scarborough. Cross the large bridge over the River Esk, then immediately turn right into Larpool Lane. After 500 metres turn left into the narrowing road of Larpool Drive. Larpool Hall is directly ahead at the end of this road. A large car park is available in the grounds.

Leaders

Alan Bailey

Alan was awarded Professional Membership of the English Bridge Union for services to the game, in recognition of both his teaching ability and of his work promoting Bridge in schools and at Birmingham University. Presently teaching Bridge at the West Midlands Club (Solihull), Alan also devotes his time as President of the Birmingham Bowling Association. Having joined HF Holidays as a lead in 1988, Alan continues to enjoy the “buzz” of working for HF Holidays in our Country Houses and looks forward to welcoming you on your forthcoming Bridge holiday.

Gordon Bickley

Gordon has been playing Bridge for forty years and has represented his county on occasion. As well as being a Premier National Master, he is a full member of the English Bridge Union’s Teachers’ Association and a County Director. He has been teaching Bridge at night school and bridge clubs since 1995 and firmly believes that the game should be played for pleasure.